Permutation-lock.



No. 698,78I. Patented Apr. 29, |902.

J. &. C. E. ABNEB.

PERMUTATION LUCK. (Application led Apr. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ARNER AND CALVIN E. ARNER, OF VEISSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE KEYLESS LOCK COMPANY, OF LEHIGHTON, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAVARE.

PERM UTATION-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part cf Letters Patent No. 698,781, dated April 29, 1902.

Application filed April 9, 1901.

To @ZZ whoml it may concern.:

Be it known that We, JOSEPH ARNERand CALVIN E. ARNER, citizens of the United States, residing at '\Veissport-, in the county of Carbon and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented new and useful'lmprove'ments in Permutation-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new7 and useful improvements in permutation locks especially adapted for use upon chests,inail-boxes, and other devices requiring a small lock.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable', and efiicient construction wherebylthe bolt of the lock will be withdrawn when the knob thereof has been turned to the proper combination. v

The details of construction, as well as the novel arrangement of parts and the method of operation, will be fully disclosed in the following description,V taken in connection with the drawings hereunto annexed, in whichW Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the preferred form of lock constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the securing-plate removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the parts in position, the tumblers being removed. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the bolt in a retracted position. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of the tumblers. Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the intermediate Washers, and Fig. S is a view of the spring` detached.

Referring now to the drawings by referencenumerals, 1 designates a lock-'case of suitable design and proportions, in the barrel 2 of -which we provide the lock mechanism. ZOnthe outer face of the case is a'rimB, provided with a graduation or starting-point 3f, and in this rim is a dial 4, containing gradu-` ations or characters, which are adapted to register with the graduation on the rim to form the combination. This dial is integral with the knob-spindle 5, working in a sleeve 6 in the case.

7 designates a bifurcated plate which straddles the sleeve 6 and carries on one corner Serial No. 55,101.. (No model.)

thereof a lug or projection S, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

9 designates a fence projecting from lone side' of the plate, provided with an upwardlyextending lever 22 and adapted to engage recesses 10 in the tuinblers 11. These tumblers are revolubly secured upon the sleeve 6 and carry one or more buttons or knobs 12, adapted to register to form the combination. These tumblers are spaced apart bysplt rings or washers 13. At the end ofjthespindle is secured a tumbler 13X, rigidly fastened to the spindle by a suitable screw 14. The bolt 15, which is slidably 'securedv Within the lockcase, is provided at its inner end'with a yoked leaf 16, which lits overthe spindle and is providedwith an upwardly-projecting finger 17, adapted to beengagedby the lug or projection S on the'bifurc'ated plate 7, whereby the said bolt may be retracted.`

18 designates a spring Asecured at 19 and having a laterally-extendingarm 20, bearing upon the lug or projection 8, so as to force the bifurcated plate 7 downward, and thus bring the fence 9 in engagement with the notches in the disks when in alinement, thus making it possible to retract `the bolt through the medium of the knob-spindle and rigid tumbler 13 Theispring-arm 2O is bent to forni two-curved Vseats 20land 2Ob to receive the lug 8 of the plate 7. When the bolt is projected, the lug t5V is within the seat 20a, and the tension ofthe spring holds the plate 7 in theposition showniin Fig.. 4, the downward movement of said plate 7 being limited by a foot 7,projecting from thel plate and adapted Vto contact'with a screw or pin 9, projecting from the casing. WhenV the plate 7 isturned to the position shown in Fig. 5, its lug 8 enters thecurvedseat,20lof the springarm 20, thus retaining said plate in position with the bolt retracted.

The operation of the mechanism isas lfollows: Assuming the bolt to be in its projected or locked position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the knob-spindle carrying the fixed tumbler 13X is manipulated tobring all of the'notches 10 into alinement. The fence 9 normally bears upon the periphery of each of the tumpoint, and as soon as the notches in the tumblers are alined the spring-arm 20 forces the fence into the notches, including the notch in the tumbler 13X, which is iixed on the spindle. By then turning the spindle the fence is moved inward, causing its lug 8 to engage the Iinger 17 and Withdraw the bolt. This movement'disengages the fence from the seat 20 and moves it into the seat 20", as shown in Fig. 5, thus retaining thebolt in its retracted position. As soon as the spindle is again turned to lock the bolt the beveled Wall 10iL of one of the notches lifts the fence upward, thus moving its lug 8 into the seat 20 and holding the bolt projected. The plate 7 may be moved and the bol-t projected or Withdrawn at will without the aid'of the tumblers yfrom the rear by means of the lever 22.

The entire mechanism' is housed Within the barrel 2 by means of a lock-plate 23.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided cheap, eiiicient, and durable means for operating the bolt by the spindle without the aid of secondary levers or other like devices-such as, for instance, employed in safes, vaults, and the like.

While We have described our invention as particularly applicable to mail-boxes, it is obvious that by increasing the proportions thereof this lock could be pnt to a multiplicity of uses, and While we have described in detail What appears to us at this time to be the very best means of accomplishing the desired result We do not limit ourselves to the exact construction shown, but reserve the right to make such slight changes and alterations as might suggest themselves from time to time and which Would be apparent to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a permutation-lock, the combination with 'a suitable lock-case; a spindle mounted therein; a reciprocating bolt provided with a yoke-shaped slot through which the spindle projects; a bifurcated plate straddling the spindle and adapted to engage the bolt; a fence on said plate, a foot projectinglaterally from vone arm of the plate to engage a projection of the casing, a plurality of notched disk-shaped tumblers on the spindle designed to engage the fence when the notches aline; and means carried by the spindle for retracting said bolt when the combination is solved.

2. In apermu tation-lock, the combination with a case; of a spindle mounted therein; a plurality of notched tumblers mounted on said spindle and adapted to aline with each other a sliding boltin the case having a slot through which a spindle projects; a laterallyprojecting arm on said bolt; a bifurcated plate straddling the spindle; a lug or projection on said plate for engagement with the arm; a fence carried by the plate and adapted to engage the notches in `the tumblers whereby the bolt can be retracted by a partial rotation of said tumblers;

3. Ina permutation-lock, the combination with a case; ot a spindle mounted therein; a plurality of notched tumblers mounted on said spindle and adapted to aline with each other, a sliding `bolt in the case having a slot through which a spindle projects; a laterallyprojecting arm on said bolt; a bifurcated plate straddling the spindle; a lug or projection on said plate for engagement with the arm; a fence carried by the plate; and adapted to engage the notches in the tu mblers whereby the bolt can be retracted by a partial rotation of said tumblers; and means for withdrawing said lever from engagement with the notches comprising a laterally-projecting foot on the plate and a pin projecting from the casing to engage said foot.

In testimony whereof We afx our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH ARNER. CALVIN E. ARNER.

WVitnesses:

AUSTIN BOYER, R. N. ANTHONY. 

